Rose had never spoken to anyone English before; sure she had traded a few sentences, shared a remark or two about the weather, but she had never actually carried on a conversation that meant something to her. But this did.
The man Dimitri was one like no other; the boys she was used to at home were the straight –laced kind. Tightly wound and respectful, hard working young men who knew their place in the world. But when she had first laid eyes on the dark eyed giant, she was swept away with curiosity. He had dirty jeans on, rough denim that was stained with grease and paint, and the shirt that he was wearing clearly outlined the hard planes of his broad chest. His hair was shinny and beautiful, but the messy ponytail that it was kept in let off an air of indifference. His eyes, bright brown orbs framed by generous lashes, were mysterious and held a wicked glint that made her think he was thinking of something positively sinful.
Her whole life she had been warned away by ragged exteriors such as his, but when he came up to her with a drink, holding it in front of him like a peace offering, it was everything she could do not to bombard him with questions. This was a man who lived the kind of life that was told in heroic tales, and she knew this without even having spoken to him.
So, now here she was, sitting on a porch in the dark with a man who was and was not a stranger all at once. Her friend had abandoned her, as did Lissa, although in their defense she didn't think they would have if they didn't have all that alcohol in their systems (which was their fault). Dimitri was an interesting man; he spoke perfect English, although he did so with a slight accent, much like her. He was scary to look at as well, all intimidating and large, he even had a scar that ran from his ear to the corner of him mouth, a small and barley noticeable imperfection that she only saw because for the past five minutes of silence, she had been sneaking peaks of his strong profile. He had a jaw that could cut class, a proud forehead, and a strong chin. He looked manly and beautiful all at the same time and Rose felt things that she wasn't sure she would ever feel again. The boys at home did nothing for her, and she always harbored a fear that she would marry because she had to, instead of for love like her parents did. Dimitri didn't know the thoughts that were running through the young girls head, nor did he know that she was Amish.
Rose had kept that fact hidden away, knowing that even though she would never see this man again, she didn't want him to look at her and see her for what she was; plain. She didn't dress this glamorously every day, she wore plain dresses and caps, not a shred of makeup on her face, and she spent her days with her family, animals, and God. She wasn't very smart, she didn't have any special skills other then cooking or sewing, things she doubted he would have any interest in, and she spent her time just living her life the way she knew it was supposed to be lived. Her life was monotonous, a broken record playing over and over again. And so when Dimitri turned to her and asked if she wanted a ride home, she couldn't refuse the chance to break out of the day to day schedule that she was finally beginning to find tedious.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
The bike was the scariest thing she had ever seen, it was a maze of twisting pipes and gears underneath the handle bars; a joke of a thing that didn't make the monster look anymore untamed then it did before.
Dimitri looked at her with a chuckle.
"You still want a ride? Or are you going to flake out?" he had that glint in his eyes that was full mischief, daring her to back down.
"I'd love a ride, thank you." She said back, being her usual polite self with a twinge of a challenge lacing her tone. She wasn't one to give up.
He swung his long leg across the bike and patted the seat behind him, signaling for her to get on the back of the machine. This possessed another challenge for Rose, was she really supposed to get on this bike with her legs around him? The thought made her cheeks flush, as she got on to the bike anyway, holding on to him with as light a gripe as possible.
"Unless you want to fly off the back, you're going to have to hold on a little tighter then that, Sweetheart." He spoke with laughter in his voice, but the term sweetheart was enough to send more blood flowing to her cheeks. She was still embarrassed, but as the bike roared to life underneath her, she threw everything to the wind and wound her arm around his middle like a vice.
She screamed as the bike took off, high-pitched and long, piercing the silent night as they tore off down the drive way and made their way down the winding country roads. Everything was going by in a blur, and between the engine, the wind, and the adrenaline rushing in her ears, it took her a while before she realized that Dimitri was laughing. It was rich and deep and booming, and it caused an embarrassing reaction that she was worried he would notice with her legs wrapped around him.
She had never felt more alive in her entire life, all of the heavy sensations that were taking place around her were sucking her in, beckoning her with a long twisted finger to come and join the fun side of things, the sinful side. She was undeniably attracted to the danger that this beautiful man and this beautiful machine possessed, she wanted it. She wanted this feeling to last like she wanted air to breathe.
And so, on a long and winding country road, on the back of a speeding motorcycle, a new Rose was born.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
There was nothing on the outside of Rose's home that showed the kind of life she led. It was just a big farm house, plain and as boring as can be. So when Dimitri led the bike to where Rose told him he still had no clue what he was dealing with. He stopped the bike some distance away, knowing in his gut that her parents had no idea that their daughter was out that night.
Dimitri got off the bike first, and waited for her to jump off; a far cry from the helping hand an Amish boy would have offered her. Rose, trying to be graceful, climbed off the bike and to her horror felt her knees give out from underneath her. Just as she braced herself for the feeling of the cold, unforgiving earth, a hand reached out and steadied her. Not expecting how light she was, Dimitri pulled with a bit too much force, sending Rose full speed into his chest where he caught her with his arms.
He smelt amazing. Like pine trees, and sweat, and grease and a smell that was distinctly man; scents that she would associate with him forever. It was warm there in his arms, they were strong and tightening around her as the time went by, mere seconds feeling like hours as he held he. The cold air she felt suddenly was an indication that he had let go, and Rose slowly opened her eyes, not knowing until then that they had been closed in the first place.
Dimitri was looking everywhere but her, and she felt a sharp twinge of sadness and rejection wash over her.
"Thank you for the ride," She said, trying to break the tension before she went back into her house, knowing that once she walked through that door that she would never see him again.
At the sound of her voice, Dimitri fixed his face into his usual haughty smirk and responded, "No problem, Sweetheart." Again, the term did things to her. He didn't say it sweetly. In fact, quite the opposite, he used it lightly with a tone laced in trouble. Her cheeks began to burn nonetheless, this time with anger instead of embarrassment. She was slightly crushed at the fact that she had just done the most reckless and exciting thing she could imagine, and it was all moot to him. And why wouldn't it be? He did this kind of thing everyday. The seat that she had been sitting on had probably sat hundreds of other girls, all clinging to Dimitri's broad back. And the arms that she had felt so warm in had held those same women, probably doing things to him that Rose couldn't even think of, much less take place in.
Turning around without a word, Rose walked up to her house and silently opened the door; only looking back when she heard the distinct sound of a motorcycle speeding away into the distance, and out of her life.
Quick note about Last Sacrifice- for those who (like me) were waiting all day for the LS excerpt to be released, according to Richelle's Facebook page, they were having technical problems and it should hopefully be out today, November 30th.
Just thought I would let everyone out there know :D
Thank you all so much for the reviews you have left! I cherish every single one of them, they make my day.